French-Algerian writer Sansal's five-year prison sentence upheld by appeals court
The appeals court confirmed the sentence after prosecutors sought to double his jail term, an AFP journalist reported from the hearing. Sansal was informed he has eight days to file a further appeal before Algeria's supreme court. His newly appointed French lawyer, Pierre Cornut-Gentille, said he would consult with his client before deciding whether to pursue another legal challenge.
Following the verdict, French Prime Minister François Bayrou said he hoped Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebbone would grant Sansal a pardon. "Now that the sentence has been handed down, we can imagine pardon measures, particularly in view of our compatriot's health, will be taken," said Bayrou, calling the situation "unacceptable."
Case 'makes no sense'
French President Emmanuel Macron has also urged Tebboune to show "mercy and humanity" to the author. Some of Sansal's relatives have voiced hope he could be pardoned on Saturday, the 63 rd anniversary of Algeria's independence.
A prize-winning figure in North African modern francophone literature, Sansal is known for his criticism of Algerian authorities as well as of Islamists.
The case against him arose after he told the far-right outlet Frontières that France had unjustly transferred Moroccan territory to Algeria during the colonial period from 1830 to 1962 – a claim Algeria views as a challenge to its sovereignty and that aligns with longstanding Moroccan territorial assertions.
Sansal was detained in November 2024 upon arrival at Algiers airport. On March 27, a court in Dar El Beida sentenced him to a five-year prison term and fined him 500,000 Algerian dinars ($3,730). Appearing in court without legal counsel on June 24, Sansal said the case against him "makes no sense" as "the Algerian constitution guarantees freedom of expression and conscience."
Help us improve Le Monde in English
Dear reader,
We'd love to hear your thoughts on Le Monde in English! Take this quick survey to help us improve it for you.
He defended his remarks by citing the African Union's post-independence declaration that colonial borders should remain inviolable. When questioned about his writings, Sansal asked: "Are we holding a trial over literature? Where are we headed?"
Diplomatic rift
Sansal's family has expressed fears prison could jeopardize his health, noting he is receiving treatment for prostate cancer. Authorities in the North African country maintain that due process is being respected. Commenting on his health on Tuesday, Cornut-Gentille said he saw Sansal a day earlier and that "he is fine."
The writer's conviction further strained already tense France-Algeria relations, which have been complicated by issues such as migration and Macron's recent recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a disputed territory claimed by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
LeMonde
5 hours ago
- LeMonde
French writer jailed in Algeria won't appeal
French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal will not appeal his five-year prison sentence to Algeria's Supreme Court, sources close to the author said on Saturday, July 5, as Paris stepped up its calls for him to be pardoned. The 80-year-old dual national was sentenced to five years in March on charges related to undermining Algeria's territorial integrity over comments made to a French media outlet. "According to our information, he will not appeal to the Supreme Court," the president of the author's support committee, Noelle Lenoir, told broadcaster France Inter. "Moreover, given the state of the justice system in Algeria... he has no chance of having his offense reclassified on appeal," the former European affairs minister added. "This means that the sentence is final." French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said earlier this week he hoped Algeria would pardon the author, whose family has highlighted his treatment for prostate cancer. But Sansal was not on a list of thousands of people pardoned by Algeria's president on Friday, the eve of the country's independence day. 'Intolerable' Bayrou returned to the subject on Saturday. "Boualem Sansal has not been convicted for what he might have done but for opinions expressed," he told members of his party at a Paris meeting, the Parisien newspaper reported. "And that one of our compatriots, 80 years old and ill, is thus imprisoned is intolerable," he added. Lenoir said she remained hopeful. "We believe he will be released. It is impossible for Algeria to take responsibility for his death in prison," she said. A prize-winning figure in North African modern francophone literature, Sansal is known for his criticism of Algerian authorities as well as of Islamists. The case against him arose after he told the far-right outlet Frontières that France had unjustly transferred Moroccan territory to Algeria during the colonial period from 1830 to 1962. Algeria views that claim as a challenge to its sovereignty and one that aligns with longstanding Moroccan territorial assertions. Sansal was detained in November 2024 upon arrival at Algiers airport. On March 27, a court in the town of Dar El Beida sentenced him to a five-year prison term and fined him 500,000 Algerian dinars ($3,730). Appearing in court without legal counsel on June 24, Sansal said the case against him "makes no sense," as "the Algerian constitution guarantees freedom of expression and conscience." The writer's conviction has further strained France-Algeria relations, already complicated by issues such as migration and France's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a disputed territory claimed by the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, an armed separatist movement.
LeMonde
10 hours ago
- LeMonde
The impossible warming of China-EU relations
Some speculated that Beijing was launching a charm offensive to win over Brussels and European capitals, unsettled by Donald Trump's return to power and the trade war he declared on Europe. However, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's tour of Europe from June 30 to July 5 did little to smooth over differences less than three weeks ahead of the summit China and the European Union are set to hold on July 24 to mark 50 years of diplomatic ties. Beijing made some gestures. On Friday, July 4, the Chinese authorities announced trade retaliation targeting wine-based spirits, but coupled them with exemptions for producers who agree to minimum prices – effectively protecting a portion of the French cognac industry that was in the crosshairs. In late April, Beijing had already announced the lifting of sanctions imposed in 2021 on five members of the European Parliament and their families for their advocacy on behalf of the Uyghur minority. Despite these limited overtures, numerous disputes persisted and the European Union has increasingly adopted a tit-for-tat approach. While China enacted a policy of buying only Chinese-made medical devices – a measure that penalized European groups such as Siemens – Europe has, since June 20, barred Chinese companies from bidding on public tenders in this sector.
LeMonde
12 hours ago
- LeMonde
A French writer and a journalist are likely excluded from pardon measures granted by Algerian president
The silence of French authorities on the evening of Friday, July 4, after the announcement of pardons granted by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune appeared to confirm suspicions: Boualem Sansal was not expected to be among the 6,500 detainees released for the 63 rd anniversary of Algerian independence, celebrated on July 5. The Franco-Algerian writer, sentenced on Tuesday to five years in prison and a 500,000 dinar fine (€3,300) by the Algiers Court of Appeal, remained held at Koléa prison, where he had been incarcerated since his arrest in mid-November 2024 at the Algiers airport. The pardon decree signed by the Algerian head of state did not provide a list of the individuals to benefit from the gesture, but instead set out categories of detainees who would be excluded. One such category was "authors of attacks or plots against the authority of the state, national unity, or territorial integrity," which appeared to rule out the writer, since Algerian justice had convicted him of endangering state security, territorial integrity, and the stability of institutions. The charges stemmed from remarks made by Sansal in a filmed interview with the far-right magazine Frontières, in which he spoke about the western region of Algeria belonging to Morocco.
